long while. Perhaps you will forgive me now
for having asked you that question about the elder Mrs. Cohen's daughter. I
cared very much what I should find Mirah's friends to be. But I had found a
brother worthy of her when I knew that her Ezra was disguised under the name of
Mordecai.«
    »Mordecai is really my name - Ezra Mordecai Cohen.«
    »Is there any kinship between this family and yours?« said Deronda.
    »Only the kinship of Israel. My soul clings to these people, who have
sheltered me and given me succour out of the affection that abides in Jewish
hearts, as a sweet odour in things long crushed and hidden from the outer air.
It is good for me to bear with their ignorance and be bound to them in
gratitude, that I may keep in mind the spiritual poverty of the Jewish million,
and not put impatient knowledge in the stead of loving wisdom.«
    »But you don't feel bound to continue with them now there is a closer tie to
draw you?« said Deronda, not without fear that he might find an obstacle to
overcome. »It seems to me right now - is it not? - that you should live with
your sister; and I have prepared a home to take you to in the neighbourhood of
her friends, that she may join you there. Pray grant me this wish. It will
enable me to be with you often in the hours when Mirah is obliged to leave you.
That is my selfish reason. But the chief reason is, that Mirah will desire to
watch over you, and that you ought to give to her the guardianship of a
brother's presence. You shall have books about you. I shall want to learn of
you, and to take you out to see the river and trees. And you will have the rest
and comfort that you will be more and more in need of - nay, that I need for
you. This is the claim I make on you, now that we have found each other.«
    Deronda spoke in a tone of earnest affectionate pleading, such as he might
have used to a venerated elder brother. Mordecai's eyes were fixed on him with a
listening contemplation, and he was silent for a little while after Deronda had
ceased to speak. Then he said, with an almost reproachful emphasis -
    »And you would have me hold it doubtful whether you were born a Jew! Have we
not from the first touched each other with invisible fibres - have we not
quivered together like the leaves from